ASUS Transformer Book with Windows 8 up for pre-order

ASUS' 13.3-inch Transformer Book first surfaced last October. This tablet in the Transformer series is the largest the manufacturer has developed thus far. The Transformer Book comes with a base, from which the screen can be detached. The screen harbours all the hardware, which consists of an Intel Core i5-3371U or i7-3517U processor, 4 GB of memory and a 128 GB mSATA solid-state drive. The 13.3-inch IPS multi-touch screen has a 1920x1080 pixel Full HD resolution.

A 500 GB hard drive has been integrated into the keyboard dock, which also houses a micro-HDMI port, 2x USB 3.0, a network connector, mini-DisplayPort output and audio out. The design is reminiscent of ASUS' Zenbook Prime.

The tablet has now appeared on MacMall webshop, where the model with Core i7-3517U, which has been given product number TX300CA-DH71T, is available at a $1.479,99 (£970) price. Currently, the status of the hybrid tablet is still 'pre-order', but the latest rumours indicate a release in March.